30 May 2009

Popped into the finest address on Piccadilly in London for a celebratory glass of Champagne. The concierge gave my friend Jimmy a navy and burgundy red striped tie with a crest to wear with his sleek Dior Homme shirt. He was crushed. I do love a dress code...

29 May 2009

I want this gorgeous flea market leather chair from Halo. Not dissimilar to the big, brown leather chair Carrie buys from Aidan in Sex and the City, I want a massive chair I can clamber onto with a stack of magazines and glass of wine to lose an afternoon in. Especially made from soft, battered, rich brown leather. Beautiful.

28 May 2009

SHOCK HORROR: I'm starting to warm to denim... Topshop is showing off their wide range of cute denimwares and I'm feeling it. Stone washed, bleached, panelled or quilted, Denimology is the perfect way to update your wardrobe for SS09. In particular I love this battered stone grey body con and gorgeous plum panelled dress:

I think my mother forcing me into plaid denim waistcoats and long popstud shirts with denim leggings (yes, and denim scrunchies at times - prompting years in the therapist's chair) at a very young age has still left me reeling as I can only cope with dark black denim and boyfriend jeans. Maybe I'll venture into daring unchartered territory this summer: the denim dress. I'm feeling bold.

Earlier this month I went to the make up brand ARTDECO's UK press launch. Huge in Europe, and in particular Germany, the brand is looking to boost their publicity over here too. Friend-of-the-princes Tara Palmer Tomkinson trotted in and officially lent her horsey face to the brand at the launch, which was also attended by a host of other girly slebs cooing over compacts and nail varnishes.

The mineral face powder in the goody bag is particularly good(y) - I never wear anything on my skin as I hate heavy foundation, but this offers a fresh light coverage which feels soft and smooth. The range also boasts high pigments in the coloured eyeshadows and high-shine lipglosses in cheap packaging cheerfully decorated with art deco pattern and prints, all for reasonable prices. A new firm favourite for weeklies and glossies no doubt...Questionable 90s campaign (fake flares or soft focus brush edging, anyone?) and choice of models though. I suppose if they're aiming for glitzy, blinging customers, they've got to hire in Liverpool girls; they know their market.

19 May 2009

I love Jean-Charles de Castelbajac for sending his models down the runway in jokes clothes: photo prints of Michael Jackson, dollar dresses and Sesame Street head dresses. I particularly love JC's cute printed jumper from his AW09 collection.

18 May 2009

I love Pamela Anderson for refusing to grow old gracefully. When Vivienne Westwood started using Pammie as the face of her Gold Label collection, it was a match made in heaven and the blonde bombshell embodies Vivienne's brash and theatrical punk image perfectly.

This weekend at the AIDS gala in Austria, Pammie strutted around with a gold ghettoblaster bigger than her hair. She rocks tacky glamour and show-stopping "outfits" like a pro - and, at 41, hats off to her.

14 May 2009

Last month I went to the launch of the new Lifestyle Bazaar shop on Kingsland Road in Shoreditch. This is their second opening following on from the success of their Newburgh Street shop - and the area is a great place for this gorgeous design-focused company.

The lovely owners showed me around and highlighted their new ranges and furniture pieces. It's perfect for one-off modern ornaments and and unusual designer gifts. Best of luck in your new neighbourhood, chaps... I hope it lures more sleek, contemporary design companies to the edgy, mean streets of E2.

8 May 2009

Here are my favourite 12 looks from the Paris Louis Vuitton show (I know, 'Top 12' doesn't have the same ring - it pains me that 12 isn't a nice, neat number but I couldn't reduce it to 10, it's all too good). Lashings of black detailing, bold splashes of 80s stand out colours, ruched grey, killer heels, 60s backcombed beehives and smoky make-up. This collection was designed for me.

7 May 2009

The June edition of British Vogue is out today, with Mario Testino's portrait of the gorgeous Natalia Vodianova looking resplendent on its cover. Alexandra Shulman says the 'Body Issue' explores the body image debate and how we choose to clothe ourselves.

Obviously, it's good they're tackling the sociological impact of image hang-ups for modern women and dedicating a whole issue to the 'celebration of shape and style'; and it's great they're attempting to empower women to embrace their figures.

However, it does little good merely commenting on the size zero, youth and image obsessed culture we live in whilst continuing to contribute offering up airbrushed, unrealistic images of the ideal woman. Fashion magazines reinforce that to be beautiful you need to look like the 16 year old skinny girls Vogue uses in 11 issues out of twelve. It's undermining, patronising and transparent: one 'Body Issue' does not a spearhead for the 'celebration of real women' movement make.

5 May 2009

Style crush alert: the McCartney clan were out with Liv and the two Kates showing off the Brit designer's beautiful and varied gowns, Jessica channeled the mermaid look in Michelle O's favourite Jason Wu:

Diane was cute in Chanel, Claudia was a cut above the rest in Versace, Anne Hathaway opted for 60s sex kitten complete with biggest-in-the-house hair:

Agyness looked grown-up oozing Hollywood glamour in a floor-length shimmering Burberry gown, Rihanna channeled Prince through her fierce D&G tux and Madonna stepped back to the 80s with her brave Louis Vuitton get up:

With so many gorgeous hits and hideous car-crash misses, the 2009 annual event in New York - hosted by Marc Jacobs and Kate Moss - is glorious fashion porn at its best. I'll assume my invite was lost in the post... Until next year.

4 May 2009

For the May Day bank holiday weekend I've come home to see my old pals and the annual carnival. My friend has her own cupcake company and we did some publicity shots in the Bluebell Woods and romped around with cakes like naughty famous five-rs, with Tim Walker as inspiration for the photographs.

His creativity explodes over every image with multicoloured cats, balloons on the beach, summery tea parties in fields and beautiful haute couture hung in trees all shot with a hazy, soft-focus ethereal glow... I'd kill for his imagination!